External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar has commenced a week-long official visit to France, the European Union (EU), and Belgium, spanning from June 8 to June 14, 2025. This visit is expected to deepen India's relations with these key European partners and provide renewed momentum to ongoing cooperation across diverse sectors.

The External Affairs Minister (EAM) will begin his trip with a visit to France, specifically Paris and Marseille. In France, India and France have completed 25 years of strategic partnership. Dr. Jaishankar will engage in bilateral discussions with his counterpart, Jean Noel Barrot, the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France. These discussions aim to build upon the already strong foundation of trust and commitment between the two nations. India and France share similar perspectives on many regional and global issues and cooperate closely across all domains of strategic and contemporary relevance. Beyond meeting with his counterpart, EAM Jaishankar will also meet with senior French leaders, and engage with think tanks and media representatives to further strengthen ties and exchange perspectives on critical global matters. He will also participate in the inaugural edition of the Mediterranean Raisina Dialogue in Marseille.

Following his engagements in France, the EAM will proceed to Brussels to engage with the European Union. The India-European Union strategic partnership has seen considerable strengthening across various sectors over the years. This momentum was further boosted by the first-ever visit of the EU College of Commissioners to India in February of this year. During his visit, Dr. Jaishankar will hold a Strategic Dialogue with the EU High Representative and Vice President, Kaja Kallas. This dialogue aims to address key areas of mutual interest and further solidify the strategic partnership between India and the EU. Furthermore, the EAM will engage with senior leaders from the European Commission and the European Parliament, fostering stronger institutional ties. Interactions with think tanks and media are also planned, providing opportunities to share insights on India-EU cooperation and address pressing global challenges.

The final leg of EAM Jaishankar's European tour will be in Belgium, where he will hold bilateral consultations with the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Belgium, Maxime Prevot. India and Belgium share warm and friendly relations, underpinned by a robust economic partnership. Collaboration between the two countries spans across various domains, including trade and investment, green energy, technology, pharmaceuticals, the diamond sector, and strong people-to-people ties. In addition to meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Prevot, EAM Jaishankar will also meet with other senior Belgian leaders to explore avenues for enhanced cooperation. He is also scheduled to interact with members of the Indian community in Belgium, underscoring the importance of people-to-people connections in strengthening bilateral relations.